THE 4th CATARACT

For a long time it was one of the least known regions of eastern Africa. The Nile runs through it in an east-west, rather than south-north direction, through rocky banks of black granite, forming islands. The area is wild, beautiful for the visitor but poor for those that have to live there. Thin bands of earth appear here and there.

This region, extending approximately over 200 km, will be modified by the construction of the Merowe Dam (the 'Hamdab' project, the name of the locality) above the cataract and is planned to be ready by the end of the decade.

In 1987, Unesco was alerted to the disappearance of the archaeological remains. In 1989, Jean Leclant directed a reconnaissance mission so as to envisage an international operation for the safekeeping of the cultural patrimony that was yet to be studied. This mission confirmed that in Antiquity the area was inhabited. Thousands of rock drawings were found, as well as Meroitic post-Meroitic and Christian burials, and the remains of fortresses and churches.

The activities of different missions have allowed us to better understand this region.